Reports on SkySpors suggest that Juventus will be making a bid to secure the services of Olof Mellberg this month and not just look at agreeing a pre-contract deal as first thought.

This will be a worry for Martin O'Neill who just earlier today has praised Mellberg and Craig Gardner for standing in while the club didn't have a recognised right back. If he were to leave surely alarm bells would start ringing somewhere?

Earlier in the season Martin O'Neill did say something about going back in for his right back target in January but judging by what he has said today it's not something he's focusing too much time on. We can only guess at why.

“At this minute, getting what we’d call a recognised right-back is a thought but it’s not as overwhelming as you think. I’m sure everybody would feel it’s something we’d definitely look at, but it’s not overwhelming in that sense." said O’Neill.

If Mellberg has his heart set on Juventus at the end of the season then all they've really got to do is force their hand and say they want him now. It'll not only make him feel good but it could also push the deal through - if he doesn't go it could be a deal breaker for him.

It's all speculation but if he stays I'd have no worries him playing at right back.

Comments (6)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

PaulE said:

I'm surprised it's not the main focus of this transfer window. We've been pretty strong everywhere on the pitch apart from the right hand side. I suppose signing someone like Defoe may allow Gabby to play on the right of midfield (he still scores even when he plays there), which could help in the short term, but a decent right back could make a big difference. I appreciate that he may be waiting for a really decent prospect to become available, but it could be the difference between European qualification and just missing out, especially if we offload Cahill too. Mellberg and Gardner aren't too injury prone, but you never know.

January 17, 2008

tonebone said:

I am utterly shocked it is not the main priority. How can we consider going through a whole season without a recognised right back. Mellber has done his best but it is clear he is not a natural there. ok he can defend but in a right back u need someone that is good going forward and overlapping and can cross the ball. we r a one dimensional team just left hand sie and need 2 right sided players.

January 17, 2008

villafandan said:

i'm pretty sure it's his main priority.... i probably wouldn't be broadcasting it either, doesn't give one much of a bargaining position.

January 18, 2008

Michael P said:

Juventus have just lost Chiellini to injury and they are short difensively so they may need to go for Mellberg now..MON saying the right back position is not a priority surprises me to put it politely, sometimes I really do wonder whether he is having a laugh or he is being serious..baffled.

January 18, 2008

Stevo said:

Yeah i do think it should be a priotory aswell. Not only do we a need a right back we need a right sided midfielder who actually likes the position. Teams just need to double up on Young and not foul him and there goes our main outlet. Isn't Man Citys Onouha a right back? Ive heard we may be after him.

January 18, 2008

HolteEndAl said:

Why all the fuss?! IF Mellberg does decide to move on, then a right back would i accept, be pretty handy. However - i cant think of any outstanding candidate that I'd like O'Neil to go for (at least not one that I think would be likely to join in this January window). So, in the absence of a right back joining - what are our options? We've seen Mellberg and indeed Craig Gardner both do alright down that right side, but as tonebone says, we're pretty one-dimensional in that we depend on Barry, Young and to a certain extent Bouma, all co-operating efficiently down the left, OR the big long ball being flicked on by Carew in the hopes that Gabby can get free. The solution? With the players we've got right now? (I know i'll probably get lynched for this). A return to the 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation that will allow us to play to our strengths and put an end to the left-side dependancy. After all, we've got as far as i can tell 4 decent centre backs in Mellberg, Laursen (may he remain fit forever more), Knight and Davies, we've got Bouma who can also play more central than he does at present, with the likes of promising youngsters like Cahill waiting in the shadows. We've got the midfield players for it already - Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Gardner (in his preferred role) and -until a quality right winger can be brought in, and as controversial as this may be - Gabby wide on the right. Then you have your pick of strikers to get on the end of improved service. Many people have long since decided that this formation is no good, but when you think about working our tactics around the strengths of the players at our disposal, it could actually be the answer to our right-back "problems", and help us build on the FANTASTIC work that O'Neil and the players/staff at VP have done already this season. Personally, I hope Mellberg doesn't join Juve (and I certainly hope he's got more about him than to quit Villa for Bolton!) but should the worst happen and he decides a new challenge is what he's after - i hope the Villa faithful will not kill the feel good buzz about the place this season by panicking or whinging about our lack of effort to go out and fill the full back spot, and keep the support as top-class as it's been up till now. Hey, it might not be perfect, but it could be worse - Doug could still be in charge!! Roll on Europe, UP THE VILLA!

January 19, 2008

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

Add Comment